Thomas Wilson Paterson (6 December 1850 – 28 August 1921) was a Canadian railway contractor, politician, and the ninth Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.[1]
Thomas Wilson Paterson | |
|---|---|
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| 9th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia | |
| In office December 3, 1909 – December 5, 1914 | |
| Monarchs | Edward VII George V |
| Governors General | The Earl Grey the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn |
| Premier | Richard McBride |
| Preceded by | James Dunsmuir |
| Succeeded by | Francis Stillman Barnard |
| MLA for North Victoria | |
| In office December 23, 1902 – October 3, 1903 | |
| Preceded by | John Paton Booth |
| Succeeded by | district abolished |
| MLA for The Islands | |
| In office October 3, 1903 – February 2, 1907 | |
| Preceded by | new member |
| Succeeded by | Albert Edward McPhillips |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 December 1850 Darvel, Ayr, Scotland |
| Died | 28 August 1921 (aged 70) Victoria, British Columbia |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Emma Elizabeth Riley
(m. 1886) |
| Occupation | Railway contractor |
| Profession | Politician |
Railway career
editAfter moving to British Columbia in 1885,[2] he helped to build the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway line on Vancouver Island.[1] In 1895, he became general manager of the Victoria and Sidney Railway.[1] In 1897, Paterson filed for and was granted a patent for a spark catcher and smoke burner for locomotives.[3] The following year, he filed for a patent in the United States as well.[4]
Political career
editIn 1902, Paterson ran as an independent candidate in a byelection for the provincial riding of North Victoria prompted by the death of the incumbent, John Paton Booth. He defeated a government-aligned candidate by 43 votes (12% of the votes cast). For the 1903 election, the North Victoria riding was abolished during redistribution, and Thomas ran as a Liberal candidate in the newly created riding of The Islands. He defeated a Conservative candidate by 67 votes (19% of the votes cast). In the 1907 election, a new Conservative candidate won by 6 votes (2% of votes cast), and Thomas was unseated.[5]
In 1907, he was defeated when running for mayor of Victoria.
From 1909 to 1914, he was the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. In 1912, he presented a cup to the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.[6] The cup was first won by the New Westminster Royals, who were PCHA champions in the PCHA's first season.[7]
Family and personal life
editBorn in Darvel, Scotland,[8] he immigrated to Canada with his parents. He was raised in Ontario.[1]
Paterson married Emma Elizabeth Riley, the daughter of George Riley in Victoria on November 25, 1886.[9] Paterson retired in 1914. He died in Victoria on August 28, 1921,[10] and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia biography". Government House. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ "Paterson, Thomas Wilson". British Columbia Archival Information Network. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Canadian Intellectual Property Office: Patent 56793 Summary
- ^ Google Patents: Thomas wilson paterson: US 601355 A
- ^ Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986. Victoria, BC: Elections British Columbia (1988), pages 91, 93, 102, 405.
- ^ The Paterson Cup presented to the Pacific Coast Hockey Association champions The New Westminster Hockey Team
- ^ Thomas Wilson Paterson - Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
- ^ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
- ^ "Marriage Registration of Thomas Wilson Paterson and Emma Elisabeth Riley, Registration: 1886-09-003141". BC Archives - Royal BC Museum. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
- ^ "British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLG9-82K : 30 September 2015), Thomas Wilson Paterson, 1921.
